Repotting your plants can sound tricky, but we have a few tips to make it a success.

Reasons To Re-pot Indoor Plants

Fresh Soil – Nutrient Boost
Your indoor plant absorbs the majority of its food through nutrients in the soil. Over time, the soil becomes increasingly depleted. You may notice that after a few seasons of thriving, your plant produces small new grown, off color leaves, or is just generally “unhappy.” Even if you fertilize regularly, repotting (or potting up) with new soil provides a nutrient boost that will give your plant what it needs to thrive.

Better Watering
Ever notice that when you water, it seems to immediately seep out of the bottom of the pot? Your plant is likely root bound – a condition in which the plant needs new space so badly that the roots have wrapped around and around the outside of the pot. This creates channels for the water to flow through which is why a root bound plant is very difficult to actually water. Freeing up these roots through re-potting will help your plant get the water it needs to keep its thirst quenched and leaves lush.

Room to breath
Everyone likes a little breathing room, houseplants included. Another reason to free plants from being root bound is to promote new growth. Plants can rebound dramatically and generously from repotting. A stronger, growing root system will make your plant happier and grow faster.

Disease Prevention
Ever over water your plants? Don’t worry. We all do. The issue is root rot – when roots become damaged from over-watering, they turn dark brown or black. They’re susceptible to disease in this state, and actually are unable to absorb water (which is why an over-watered plant can sometimes seem thirsty). Clipping off these damaged roots helps a plant recover from being over-watered and your best line of defense against fungus and disease.

Divide and Conquer
When plants get too crowded, many can be divided to free up space and make new plants! Re-potting time is the ideal moment to take advantage and divide offshoots.

Steps to Repot
1. Remove plant from current pot
Turn your new plant sideways, hold it gently by the stems or leaves, and tap the bottom of its current pot until the plant slides out. You might need to give it a bit of help with a couple gentle tugs on the base of the stems.

2. Loosen the roots
Loosen the plant’s roots gently with your hands. You can prune off any threadlike roots that are extra long, just make sure to leave the thicker roots at the base of the foliage. If your plant is root bound – the roots are growing in very tight circles around the base of the plant – unbind the roots as best you can and give them a trim.

3. Remove old potting mix
Remove about one third or more of the potting mix surrounding the plant. As it grows, your plant removes some of the nutrients in the current mix, so you'll want to give it a fresh mix if you're potting it anyway!

4. Add new potting mix
Pour a layer of fresh potting soil into the new planter and pack it down, removing any air pockets. If your new planter doesn’t have a drainage hole, layer the bottom with lava rocks or similar (rocks, gravel, etc.) before adding the potting mix. The goal is to create crevices for the extra water to pool into, away from your plant’s roots.

5. Add plant
Set your plant that you removed from the grow pot on top of the fresh layer of mix in the new planter, making sure it's centered, then add potting mix around the plant until it is secure. Be sure not to pack too much soil into the planter, as you want the roots to breathe.

6. Water and enjoy
Even out the potting soil on top, water well, and enjoy!